What’s on, what to see, and most importantly, what floristry will be at the show this year?
Floral Art and Design in the Great Pavilion
Competition: Floral Creations
The theme is simply ‘Colour’ so anything goes really, with displays encompassing the Pantone Neon colour trends to the vibrancy of the Peking Opera. This competition is judged, and the winner of Floral Creations will be crowned RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year.
Creative Spaces
The spec is even broader with no theme or rules, so is not being judged, but one entrant will receive the Floristry Ambassadors Choice Award. This was won last year by a celebration of ancient British landscapes and native flora, it will be interesting to see what impresses the ambassadors, which include Simon Lycett and Nicki Chapman, this year.
Moreton Morrell College
The winner of the RHS invitation to represent floristry colleges across the UK, Moreton Morrell students will be showcasing their design ‘Awakening: Rooted in Nature Together.’
Floral Installations around the showground
The RHS promises an eclectic selection of large scale installations for the visitor to admire. The famous London Gate entrance, decorated so spectacularly by Lucy Vail Floristry in 2023, will this year be based on the launch of the latest season of Bridgerton. Meanwhile, at the other end of the showground, the Bullring Gate’s theme is ‘Bones’ intriguingly inspired by ‘the bare bones of floristry mechanics.’
Houseplant Studios
These open air summerhouses have become a permanent feature of the show, there are seven in total, each very different from each other, we’re looking forward to Plants with Soul, Upcycled Botanicals and Verdant Visions.
Chelsea and Belgravia in Bloom
If you can’t get to the show itself, it’s worth making the trip simply to take in Chelsea and Belgravia in Bloom, both of which get bigger and more ambitious every year. The themes for 2024 are, respectively, ‘Floral Feasts’ and ‘Floral Fun and Games’ . Expect a giant Hungry Caterpillar in Sloane Square and oversized board games in Belgravia, plus a whole host of imaginative displays down the Kings Road and beyond.
For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk/shows www.chelseainbloom.co.uk www.belgravialdn.com
Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over twenty-five years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.
